Kings and Royals bowled out: Lodha panel suspends star-studded teams and bans Meiyappan and Kundra from BCCI matches for life

Time for a clean-up: Justice R.M. Lodha during the announcement of the panel’s verdict on IPL fixing

In a verdict that shook the very foundations of the Indian Premier League, a three-member panel headed by Justice R.M. Lodha, tasked by Supreme Court to punish those guilty of betting during the 2013 edition, on Tuesday suspended star-studded Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the most successful team in the history of the tournament, and Rajasthan Royals for two years.

Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of then BCCI chief N. Srinivasan and a former team principal of India Cements Ltd (ICL)-owned franchise CSK, was suspended for life from being involved in any match conducted by the BCCI. The same fate awaited Raj Kundra, co-owner of Jaipur IPL Cricket Private Limited that owns Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Justice Lodha, a former Chief Justice of India, said during a crowded press conference at the capital’s India Habitat Centre that the actions of Meiyappan, considered the top official of CSK at one time, and Kundra had brought into disrepute the game of cricket, the BCCI, and the IPL, and that they deserved no leniency.

“Purity of the game has to be preserved at any cost. Once it is accepted that cricket is bigger than individuals or body of individuals, the financial loss that may be caused to a few players or franchisees may not be of significant consideration while taking disciplinary action or for imposition of punishment for wrongdoing”, he said.

India Cements, which owned CSK, and Jaipur IPL, which manages Rajasthan Royals, faced action for not taking penal action against their officials Meiyappan and Kundra respectively, despite having knowledge of their wrongdoing.

Regarding Meiyappan, the panel noted in the 59-page order that as Meiyappan was an integral part of CSK and most people viewed him as a top official of the team, he ought not to have indulged in corrupt betting practices. It said that by regularly placing bets, he acted in gross violation of the Anti-Corruption Code.

“Instead of discharging his responsibility as Team Official in a befitting manner, he acted exactly opposite to the fundamental sporting imperatives,” said the panel.

On Kundra, it said “as a team’s part owner, he was required to conduct himself in conformity with the rules. Being a UK citizen, he had heavy responsibility on him to ensure that his acts were not in conflict with the laws of a foreign country. Betting is a crime punishable under IPC and under the BCCI’s Rules.”

Justice Lodha said allegations against IPL chief operating officer Sundar Raman required further investigation. The IPL, which has eight teams now, could go in for the inclusion of two more franchises under a new arrangement that could involve players from the two suspended teams.

On its part, the BCCI has called an emergent meeting of its working committee to discuss the future course of action in the wake of the action against the two teams.

Shocked by the order, the owners of CSK, whose top players include India limited-overs captain M.S. Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, held discussions with their lawyers and have planned to move the apex court against the panel's decision.

Similarly, Rahul Dravid-mentored RR, whose players include Ajinkya Rahane and Stuart Binny, were also said to be planning a move to seek relief. Kundra’s legal team also said they will file an appeal before the Supreme Court.

But since it is a Supreme Court-appointed panel, entrusted with the task of deciding the quantum of punishment, experts feel the teams may not get a relief.

Panel slams BCCI for not taking action

By Harish V Nair in New Delhi

The R.M. Lodha panel, which suspended IPL teams CSK and RR for two years while imposing life bans on Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra, slammed the BCCI for not taking timely disciplinary action even after getting information about wrongdoings by officials and players.

“BCCI which is managing the game of cricket in the country has to give an important place to the disciplinary role. This role is being discharged by this Committee in the present matter as mandated by the Hon’ble Supreme Court so that purity of the game remains a central element. We feel that our decision must reflect a kind of institutionally firm view for upholding the supremacy of the game”, the Justice Lodha committee’s report said.

“General omission by franchisees deserves immediate and serious attention by the BCCI”, said the report.

“The supreme court has remarked that the BCCI can impose any one of the sanctions which includes suspension of the player or other person subject to the Operational Rules from playing or involving in matches for a specified period and suspension of the team or franchisee from the league. Once Gurunath Meiyappan is accepted as Team Official, his conduct which has adversely affected the image of the BCCI and IPL as also the game and brought each one of them to disrepute, some sanction could have been imposed by the board itself”, it said.

The observations assume significance as the panel will now focus their energy on cleansing the BCCI.

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Kings and Royals bowled out: Lodha panel suspends star-studded teams and bans Meiyappan and Kundra from BCCI matches for life